Fieldfisher has announced a tie-up with Chinese boutique firm JS Partners. The merger is effective today (15 November) and will operate under a Swiss verein structure, as JS Partners adopts the Fieldfisher brand.
The 12 partner firm based in Beijing, was established in 2008 by partner Liu Jinshi and specialises in antitrust and competition, capital markets, corporate, dispute resolution, employment, inbound and outbound investment and intellectual property.
The merger with JS Partners replaces Fieldfisher’s previous relationship with Shanghai-based Ryser & Associates, which the firm had since 2013. Fieldfisher said the firms had retained a good working relationship but had mutually agreed to end the arrangement.
Last week Fieldfisher announced its takeover of Birmingham-based commercial firm Hill Hofstetter, and in July joined up with 21 partner Milan-headquartered firm Studio Associato Servizi Professionali Integrati (SASPI) through a Swiss Verein structure.
Fieldfisher managing partner Michael Chissick (pictured) said the merger will allow the firm to service the growing demand from Chinese clients looking to invest in Europe, whilst also increasing Fieldfisher’s ability to service international clients seeking opportunities in China.
He added: ‘This is the third merger in the last six months that we’ve had as a firm […] In each instance, these firms have proactively sought us out which says a lot about who we are as a firm, the maturity of our partnership, and the strength of our strategy and business.’
Last week, Simmons & Simmons also announced a new joint law venture (JLV) in Singapore with local boutique JWS Asia Law, after last year Dentons announced it was to combine with Chinese giant Dacheng under a Swiss verein structure.
Hogan Lovells last month became the third firm to announce a joint venture with China’s Fidelity Law Firm in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) after Baker & McKenzie became the first international firm to launch a joint office under the scheme when it signed with Beijing firm FenXun Partners in 2015. Holman Fenwick Willan also entered the city in April when it formalised its partnership with Wintell & Co.
georgiana.tudor@legalease.co.uk